#MindMonsters

The #MindMonsters Project: Get Involved

To take part now, scroll down and complete the four steps at the bottom of the page.

Mind Monsters

The #MindMonsters project gives you an opportunity to contribute something meaningful to an important cause. It requires no special skillset (other than the experience of being human) and it will take only a few minutes of your time.

Here’s the “Why?”:Emotional issues can make us feel completely isolated. And yet, we all have our own monsters of the mind. For some, the struggle is with anxiety, anger or guilt. Others battle with procrastination, overeating, drinking too much or repeatedly pushing their loved ones away. Almost all of us struggle somewhere with the sense that we’re just “not enough” in some kind of way: not good enough, pretty enough, thin enough, nice enough, strong enough, creative enough, smart enough, cool enough, hardworking enough, etc.

While in the grip of our most negative thoughts, we can feel as though we’re different, less-than, Other, and although it’s natural to want to hide our shameful secrets away, doing so only makes things worse.

The unfortunate truth is that trying to either fight or ignore our monsters actually makes them stronger. In contrast, sharing our stories – as difficult as it can be at times – makes things better. Expression of our struggle heals not only our own pain, but also that of other people, because in communicating the darker parts of human experience, we all learn that we’re not alone.

The #mindmonsters drawing project creates a platform for everyone to do this – either anonymously or not. And the best bit? It’s seriously fun.

The Book

In March, 2018, I will be publishing a book on the psychology of self-sabotage and how to take control.

FIGHT: Win Freedom From Self-sabotage includes tasks and creative visualisation processes like those I use with my clients. In chapter one, the reader is encouraged to imagine the part of their personality that causes them to do self-destructive things (like procrastination, eating too much, drinking too much, having panic attacks, or pushing loved-ones away, etc).

Nameless; a fear-of-being-unworthy monster.

Since the first draft has been written, people who have read it have sent me some amazing drawings of what they visualised. The range, of course, is fantastic. Some are drawn by hand, others digital. Some by people who are clearly very skilled at holding a pencil, and others from people just like the rest of us. I’ve received animated gifs, photos of angry scribbles in notepads and images of detailed paintings.

It’s been both inspiring and humbling to receive such personal pieces of artistic expression. I would love to gather as many as possible, so I can post a whole troop of mind monsters to social media, where they can share their important message.

The Campaign

The #mindmonsters project creates a space for us all to share our experience of self-sabotage in a creative, abstract, fun and ultimately very touching way.

This is Rager; a binge-drinking monster.

From the beginning of 2018, I’ll be sharing your images on Instagram and other social media platforms to raise awareness about the prevalence and effect of stress, self-doubt and shame.

If you’d like to contribute an image – either anonymously or with attribution – I’d be absolutely thrilled. Please note that the drawing most certainly does not need to be “good”! To take part, just follow the steps below and answer a few questions to build your monster’s character.

You can also post your images to social media to keep the conversation going. Please use the hash tag #mindmonsters in your post, and you can connect with me using these handles and links:

Monster Profile – No Shell

He comes from “a deep seated fear of not feeling confident amongst a crowd.”

His human would like to give him his shell back: “His source of power and confidence that allows him to be himself.”

Many thanks to Dom for contributing this wonderful little critter!

Create Your Own Mind Monster

To take part in the #mindmonsters project, follow these simple steps.

Step 1

Bring to mind an example of how you self-sabotage; a thing that you either do of feel that you wish you didn’t. This could be anything from procrastination or nail biting, through to binge drinking, drug taking, panic attacks or angry outbursts.

Step 2

Imagine that there is a particular part of your personality that inspires your self-sabotage, then answer this question:

If you couldsee that part of your personality – as if it’s a real thing, in the room with you right now – what would it look like?

For help with that, consider these questions:

– If you could point to this thing, where would you point?– Is it humanoid, animal-like or something else?– Is it large or small?– Is it dark or light?– Does it move or is it still?– Does it make any sounds? If so, what kind?

Step 3

Draw a representation of what you imagined in any medium you like. It can be as detailed or simplistic as you see fit. Some draw little more than an angry squiggle here, and that’s fine.

Step 4

Answer the questions below in relation to what you drew and send it all over to me at hazel@hazelgale.co.uk. There are links at the bottom of the page if you’d prefer to download the questions.

Mind Monster Questions

1. What kind of self-sabotage were you thinking of when drawing your “monster”?

2. If your “monster” had a name, what would it be?

3. If your “monster” could speak, what would it say?

4. Where does your monster live?

5. Where do you think it might have come from?

6. How does it make you feel?

7. If there was something you’d like to do to your monster that would solve the problem, what would that be?

Your details (entirely optional):

1. What’s your name (or the name you’d like your drawing attributed to)?